Three individuals were recently inducted into the Indiana Livestock Breeders Association Hall of Fame during the Championship Drive at the 2023 Indiana State Fair. Don Orr Jr., Tom Bechman and Scott Trennepohl were recognized for their significant impact on the livestock industry.

Don Orr Jr. Orr, Tipton, Ind., made his mark in the swine industry, where he found his footing showing Poland China hogs when he was younger. He went on to teach in the animal science department at Texas Tech University, where he was also director of the Swine Research Center. Orr later landed a position as the first Ph.D. nutritionist with JBS United, and he sits on the board of directors at JBS today. 

Orr’s community service involvement is also admirable. He served on the board of directors for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Hamilton County Extension board. 

Tom Bechman. Bechman remains a familiar face across the state as he works to ensure that the story of Indiana agriculture is told. His ag roots stretch back to his childhood on his family’s diversified farm in Johnson County, Ind. Bechman then spent several years teaching agricultural education, and he volunteers as a soils judging coach for Franklin Community High School. 

Most of Bechman’s time has been spent traveling the state to gather stories for Indiana Prairie Farmer. His devotion to covering agricultural topics helps to keep folks connected to the industry despite a decreasing farming population.  

Scott Trennepohl. Hailing from Middletown, Ind., Trennepohl is an individual who has stood out in the cattle industry. He is currently a co-owner of Trennepohl Farms, where he grows diversified grains and raises Simmental and SimAngus cattle. Prior to that, he operated Special T Cattle Co. and traveled around the country fitting cattle for well-known breeders. 

A sampling of his board and director positions includes serving as District 6 director for Indiana Farm Bureau, president for Henry County Farm Bureau and on the school board for the Shenandoah School Corp. He was also recently selected to serve on the American Simmental Association’s board of trustees. Trennepohl was named an Indiana Prairie Farmer and Purdue University College of Agriculture Master Farmer earlier this year. 

Indiana Livestock Breeders Association Hall of Fame was created in the 1930s by the association. Its purpose was to recognize individuals who made significant contributions to the livestock industry in the state. Today, representatives of the beef, dairy, horse and swine industries select honorees under the name of the Indiana Livestock Breeders Hall of Fame Committee.